Mayors’ Feed the Hungry Program, Inc.

2014-2015

Background ...... 3

Overview ...... 3

Food Drives ...... 4 ,5

Thanksgiving Turkeys ...... 5

Food Distribution ...... 6

Homeless Veterans Stand Down ...... 7

Fund Raising Events ...... 8

Publix Food for All Donation ...... 9

Annual Fund Drive ...... 9

Food Gift Cards Distribution ...... 10

Accounting and Not-for-Profit Information ...... 11

Website ...... 11

The Giving Partner ...... 11

Committee Members ...... 12

Food Drive Participants ...... 13

Corporate Sponsors ...... 14

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1987 was proclaimed the National Year of Thanksgiving by President Reagan. That same year, Sarasota Mayor Fredd Atkins and representatives of various organizations in the county gathered to decide how to effectively feed the hungry and homeless in Sarasota on Thanksgiving and the holiday season. To accomplish this, they established the Mayor’s Feed The Hungry Program. Its original mission was to collect funds and distribute them during the holiday season. Over the years the program has expanded to include food drives, community feedings and providing food gift cards.

The program is now endorsed by the Mayors of Sarasota, Venice, Bradenton, Longboat Key, Palmetto, North Port and the County Commission Chairpersons from Manatee and Sarasota counties. Services are provided to local communities throughout Sarasota and Manatee Counties.

The Mayors’ Feed The Hungry Program is an all-volunteer organization. No government funds have been used to support the program. Membership is open to anyone who is interested to help. Member organizations who regularly participate in meetings and activities are eligible to receive donations to distribute free to the needy in their communities. Please visit the website at www.mayorsfeedthehungry.org for more information.

Since its beginning, the Mayors’ Feed The Hungry Program has raised over 2.3 million dollars enabling the program to help feed over 350,000 hungry citizens in our local communities. All the money has been raised from generous community support and is distributed here in Manatee and Sarasota Counties.

There are over 30 participating organizations and several concerned citizens that participate in the Mayors’ Feed The Hungry Program.

Activities include:

 Community Feedings

 Food Drives

 Public Awareness Promotions

 Stand Down for Homeless Veterans

 Fund Drives

 Food Gift Card Distribution

3 Holiday Food Drive Over 275 schools, companies and organizations participate in the annual holiday food drive. Last year over 46 tons of food were collected and distributed to food pantries at no charge in time for Thanksgiving and the holiday season.

The Baltimore Orioles supports our food drive by offering their facilities to collect and sort food.

4 iHeart Radio and Firkins Nissan Live broadcasts and food collections

Pirate Fest is an annual event held by the Pittsburg Pirates during the winter Grapefruit League at McKechnie Field in Bradenton with fun events for the whole family. The Mayors’ Feed the Hungry participated with a display booth and collected food donations that were given back to the local community’s food pantries.

Thanksgiving Turkeys Radio Station “The Joy FM 88.1” had several live broadcasts in the Sarasota and Manatee area inviting listeners to donate a turkey at local Chick-fil-A restaurants in return for a free T-shirt. Residents of University Park collected cash donations which helped to bring the total to 2000 turkeys that were given away free for Thanksgiving.

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. Nonperishable food collected at our food drives is given away free at local food pantries by our participating members.

6 Stand Downs are one part of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ efforts to provide services to homeless veterans. The Mayors’ Feed the Hungry Program participated in Stand Downs in both Sarasota and Manatee Counties. A variety of services were offered from different local agencies and organizations. including:

Food Clothing Medical Screening Hair Cuts Job Placement Assistance Dental Services Bicycle Give Away Music and Entertainment Hot Cooked Meals Flu Shots Amnesty Court Community Services

The Mayors’ Feed the Hungry Program provided: Volunteers; Food Gift Cards; and Breakfast for the events.

7 Volunteers manned the booth at the Palmetto 4th of July 4th of July Celebration. Prizes were donated and raffled off to raise money. Shirley Booth, mayor of Palmetto, was there to support us.

In lieu of the $5 admission fee the city offered a donation opportunity of five cans of food instead of cash that was donated to the Mayors’ Feed the Hungry Program

Farmers Market The Downtown Sarasota Farmers Market provided a booth for the Mayors’ Feed the Hungry Program during peak seasons in the fall and winter. This provided an opportunity to raise funds and promote community awareness for our program.

8 During the holiday season in November and December, Publix Supermarkets raise funds to feed the hungry by taking donations at the checkout as part of the Food- For-All program. Donation tickets can be purchased in $1, $5 and $10 amounts. In April 2015 the Mayors’ Feed The Hungry Program received a donation of $ 25,000.

The major part of donations come from local residents and businesses in response to the annual fund drive. With the co-operation of our local utility providers and the services of Rooks Advertising, our direct mail provider, over 250,000 fund drive letters were distributed throughout our bi-county area in November 2014.

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Food Gift Cards allow People to Shop with Dignity

Each year the Mayors’ Feed The Hungry Program purchases food gift cards and distributes them during the holidays. This year over $175,000 in food gift cards were distributed.

Food gift cards are given to participating member organizations. Each member takes them back to their organization and distributes them to their clients and through those that assist via food pantries.

The program members have established a guideline to give one $10 food gift card per person with a suggested limit of four gift cards per family. Distribution of food gift cards is coordinated among our participating member organizations so that recipients can only receive them at one location.

Food gift cards allow people to shop with dignity, allowing them to purchase food items they might not otherwise have been able to afford.

Publix Supermarkets provides food gift cards

The Mayors’ Feed The Hungry Program purchases food gift cards through Publix Supermarkets. These cards can be used at any Publix store for food only. The cards are programmed to prohibit the purchase of alcohol, lottery tickets or tobacco products.

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Accounting Accounting services were donated by Joe Pomykala, of the CPA firm of Brent J. Myers, in Sarasota. In addition to the time consuming work of accounting and reporting that he contributes, he also prepares our Form 990 (available upon written request).

501 (c) (3) The Mayors’ Feed The Hungry Program, Inc. meets all requirements specified by the Solicitation of Contributions Act. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free (1-800-435-7352) within the state. Our state registration number is CH3763. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by the state. Since the Mayors’ Feed The Hungry Program, Inc. is administrated by an all-volunteer organization and does not engage professional solicitors, 100% of all gifts are received by the organization. The Mayors’ Feed The Hungry Program, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization as described in section 501(c)(3), per IRS Letter 1045 dated March 1, 1993. Our Federal IRS identification number is 65-0369363. All contributions are tax deductible as allowed by law.

Information about the Mayors’ Feed The Hungry Program is available on the Internet at: mayorsfeedthehungry.org Please note your ability to make a secure donation on our web site. Please be encour- aged to make a donation and help feed as many as you can.

You can also visit us on Facebook at: facebook.com/mayorsfeedthehungry

The Mayors Feed the Hungry Program has been reviewed by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County as a legitimate non profit organization meeting the requirements to be included in the Giving Partner program. Information is online at: thegivingpartner.org

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The Mayors’ Feed The Hungry Program is Open to all who Desire to Participate

2014 – 2015 Participants:

Organization Member Creative Directions ...... Bob Armstrong Fellowship Foundation/ Chairman ...... Joel Swallow Free Indeed Food Distribution ...... Eureka Webb Haitian Faith Church of God ...... Ronise Villiare Dieujuste Hope Family Services ...... Dawn Davis, Uganda Harris Hungers End ...... Vicki Snyder , Jay Moore JFCS ...... Sandi Stern Life Changers...... Larry Dean, Kevin Washington Manatee Glens ...... Avery Burke, Lucy DelaCruz Manatee Community Action Agency ...... Richard DiGiorgio, Barbara Patton Mount Carmel Community Resource ...... Shirley Pearson New Life Worship Center ...... Stacey Monroe, Cindy Wright Oak Park School ...... Rita McAdoo Project Rainbow Easter Seals ...... Krystal Cook Revelations Evangelistic Ministries ...... Carylon & Randy Pitts Rivers Edge Community Church ...... Scott Biehler Rogers Community UMC ...... Rev. Alan & Dorie Jackson, Betty Brown Saint Jude Ministries ...... Juan Aguiar, Ron Fortin Sarasota Hope House ...... Roger Lee, Cindy Wernet Second Chance Last Opportunity ...... April Glasco Senior Friendship Center ...... Ara Arteaga Staywell Health Plans ...... Sandy Hoy Suncoast Center for Independent Living ...... Livia Leyva Tabernacle Higher Learning ...... Tabitha Rentz Temple Emanu-El ...... Dorothy Quint The Center of Hope ...... Jim McCleland The Living Sanctuary ...... Denise Lowrey Truevine Church ...... Deborah Reaves University Park Association Outreach Committee ...... Linda Versluis, Lew Schaffer Volunteer / CPA ...... Joe Pomykala Volunteer ...... Joan Goveia Volunteer ...... Cindy Kahn Volunteer ...... Eugene Rose

12 Food Drive Service Providers:

A.J.’s BBQ...... Donated meals for volunteers Manasota Track Club...... Food drive pick up Baltimore Orioles ...... Food drive location PaPa John’s ...... Donated meals for volunteers A/C Warehouse ...... Food drive pick up Penskie Truck Leasing ...... Truck for food pick up Bobcat Holdings, LLC ...... Porta Potties RockTenn...... Donated 5,000 boxes Coca Cola Bottling Co. of Sarasota ...... Food drive beverages Roll Off Express ...... Donated use of a dumpster Community Haven ...... Food drive pick up Rooks Advertising ...... Promotional Materials FCCI Insurance Group ...... Donated meals for volunteers Sarasota Ford ...... Food drive pick up Firkins Nissan ...... Food collection & pick up Short Moves ...... Food drive pick up Goodwill Industries ...... Food drive pick up Sleep King...... Food drive pick up Habitat for Humanity ...... Food drive pick up Sonny’s BBQ ...... Donated meals for volunteers Home Depot ...... Truck for food pick up Stevens Worldwide Van Lines ...... Food drive pick up Intertape Polymer Group Inc...... Donated packing tape The Wood Floor Store ...... Food drive pick up Kearny Moving & Storage ...... Food drive pick upc Universal North America ...... Donated meals for volunteers Value Self Storage ...... Food drive collection and pick up

Food Drive Participants:

Abel Elementary First Baptist Church North Manatee Health Center Sonny's BBQ Achievement Center Fruitville Elementary North Port City Hall Southeast Family Health Care Center Achievement Learning Center Garden Elementary North Port High School Southside Elementary Alex and Ani Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Oak Park School St. Mark's Episcopal Church Preschool Alfa Laval Champ Services Center Octex, LLC St. Martha Church America's Super Pawn Glenallen Elementary Oliphant Financial Corporation SCF Collegiate School Anna Maria Elementary Grace Community Church Oneco Elementary Sun Hydraulics Argosy University Gulf and Bay Club Orange Ridge-Bullock Elementary Suncoast Automotive Ashton Community Fellowship Gulf Gate Elementary Osprey Biotechnics Suncoast Center for Independent Living Atwater Elementary Ham and Heaven Devil Dog Out-Of-Door Academy LWR Suncoast Polytechnical High School Avesta Apts / Avista Treesdale Harmar Mobility Palm View Elementary Suncoast School for Innovative Studies Aviation Recorders L-3 Communications Health-Fit Palmetto Charter School Sunset Kia of Bradenton Bahia Oaks Lodge Institute for Advanced Medicine Palmetto City Hall Sunshine Meadows Baltimore Orioles Herald Tribune Palmetto Dental Center Target Band Gates, PL Heron Creek Middle School Palmetto Elementary Tatum Ridge Elementary Bay Haven School of Basics Plus Hide-Away Storage Services Palmetto High School Taylor Ranch Elementary Bay Plaza Home Depot Pametto Police Station Team Edition Apparel Bayshore High School Hope Lutheran School Peace Lutheran School The Cottages at Michaels Learning Center BB&T Bank Horizons Academy Pelican Cove The Gap School Beach Haven Hoveround Corp. Pelot's Pharmacy The Meadows Community Asso. Bel Mare Condominium Imagine School PGT The Study Center Berry Plastics Kerr Group IMG Academy Pine View School The Thinking Center Big Lots Incarnation School Pirate City Totally Wicked Blackburn Elementary Island Real Estate POPI'S PLACE TPC Prestancia Blake Medical Center Island Village Montessorie Prew Academy TriNet Bobby Jones Golf Course Islandwalk at the West Villages Primrose School Tropical Cadillac Booker High School It Works Ringling College of Art & Design Tropitone Furniture Booker Middle School Johnson Middle School Riverview High School Universal North America Braden River Elementary Johnson Smith Co. Rogers Garden Elementary University Park Community Assn. Bradenton City Hall Keiser University Sandcastle Resort UPS Bradenton Fire Dept. Kiddie Academy of LWR Sarasota Academy of the Arts USF NorthPort Brentwood Elementary King Middle School Sarasota Chiropractic Center V W A, Inc. Brewer Carpet One Kostas Family Restaurant Sarasota City Hall Value Self Storage Brickhouse Academy LA Family Fitness Sarasota City Offices - Federal Bdlg Van Ness Law Group, P.A. Broach School Labinal Power Systems Sarasota County Administration Van Wezel Brookside Middle School Lake Venice Golf Club Pro Shop Sarasota County Fire Dept. Venice Airport Cadence Bank Lakeview Elementary Sarasota County Government Venice Christian School CAE Healthcare Lakewood Ranch H.S. Sarasota County School Board Venice City Hall Casarina Lamarque Elementary Sarasota Ford Venice Water Reclamation Facility Center Montessori School Land Rover Southpointe Venice Elementary Chris Craft Laurel Nokomis School Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority Venice Fire Dept. Station 2 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Lee Middle School Sarasota Masonic Lodge Venice High School Church on the Rock Leslie Wells Realty Sarasota Memorial ER & Health Care Center Venice Middle School Clickbooth Lido Beach Resort SMH Bayside Center for Behavioral Health Venice Police Department Coldwell Banker Lincoln Memorial Middle School SMH - Corporate Finance Venice Public Works Community Christian School Lowe's Sarasota Memorial Hospital Venice Reverse Osmosis Plant Cool Today Loyal Order of Moose #764 Sarasota Memorial Nursing & Rehab Center Veterans Funeral Service Crescent Royale Magnolia Health & Rehab Sarasota Memorial Patient Financial Services Walgreens Crystal Lakes Home Owners Assn. Manatee Area Youth Soccer Org. Sarasota Memorial Urgent Care Center Walmart Detwiler's Farm Market Manatee Association of Realtors Sarasota Military Academy West Coast Christian Academy Doctors Hospital Manatee Boys & Girls Club Sarasota Police Station West Coast School of Human Development Douglas Jeep Manatee County Rural Health Services Sarasota School of Arts & Sciences Westwoods at Sunrise Elephant's Trunk Thrift Shop Edgar H. Price Jr. Children & Family Ctr Sarasota Suncoast Academy Wilde Honda Epiphany Cathedral School Manatee School for the Arts Sarasota Utilities Winn-Dixie European Academy of Early Education Master Care Physical Therapy Scott's Auto Sales Witt Elementary Everence Federal Credit Union MedTel Services SCTI Woodland Middle School Everglades University Michael Saunders Shapes Woodmere Park & Recreation Center Fashion Focus Hair Money Man Pawn Siemens Water Technologies WSRQ Radio Fellowship of Believers Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Siesta Gulf View YMCA Fire Science Academy MTI East Siesta Market YouFit Firkins Nissan New College SKY Academy

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The Mayors’ Feed The Hungry Program actively seeks corporate sponsors. Corporate sponsors have their company logos displayed on our website and fund drive letters. To become a corporate sponsor, an annual donation of $3,000 or services in-kind is requested. It is indeed a pleasure to stand shoulder to shoulder with our all-volunteer committee and our sponsorship supporters to help meet the hunger problem in our communities. We thank them all!

Sponsor Contribution

Brent J. Myers, CPA ...... Accounting Services Brighthouse ...... Public Service Announcements iHeart Radio ...... Public Service Promotions Comcast / Xfinity...... Public Service Announcements Der Dutchman Restaurant ...... Pies for community holiday feedings Elaine’s Cafe...... Pies for community holiday feedings Publix Charities ...... Food Gift Certificates RockTenn ...... Boxes for Food Drive Rooks Advertising ...... Marketing and Direct Mail Services Sarasota County Environmental Services ...... Printing of fund drive letters SNN Chanel 6 News ...... Public Service Announcements Sptolight Graphics ...... Printing Services The Community Foundation of Sarasota County ...... Monetary The Joy FM ...... T-Shirts for Turkeys Yoder’s Restaurant ...... Pies community holiday feedings

14 mayorsfeedthehungry.org

facebook.com/mayorsfeedthehungry

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